Seminary Students

As missionaries, one of our main activities is recognizing and raising up new leaders. There are many ways that we set out to accomplish this, through: social interaction/personal relationships, vision casting, one-on-one discipleship, teaching, providing seminary opportunities for those who are qualified, etc.

I have a special role to play in this last area, as I am the liaison between our seminary students who are receiving scholarships and the mission. What does that mean? It means I serve as communicator, enforcer, encourager, and host.

1. Communicator: I communicate with the students throughout the year to ensure that they are progressing well and that their basic needs are being met. I share the expectations that we, as representatives of the U.S. Alliance churches, have for those who are receiving scholarships. We have several requirements that must be met for those wanting scholarships.
2. Enforcer: I follow-up with the students to make sure they are fulfilling the requirements of the scholarship. For example, some of the requirements are: maintaining a certain grade point average, ministering in their local church, and completing a C&MA doctrinal course before entering your second year (this is not an exhaustive list).
3. Encourager: As a missionary team we are all encouraging our seminary students. However, I have the privilege of making that blessing part of my work responsibilities. I try to visit one class of each student during the semester to see what they are experiencing and to encourage them to press on in the high calling.
4. Host: Part of the encouragement duty is fulfilled in this responsibility as host as well. Twice a year we host a get-together in our home for all of the students and their pastors. As a missions team we want to show the students that we value them and consider them one of our greatest assets.

The past couple of weeks I've met with all of our seminary students as they are preparing to return after their summer break (that's right, summer here is December-March). I enjoy meeting with the students as it gives me an opportunity to ask them about their passions, desires for ministry, giftedness, calling, etc. I asked a group of four students to share their calling with me this past week. As each one shared I heard how God works differently at revealing His specific calling to the individual. One student talked about the process of going through open doors as God formed his desires to be more in line with His desires. Another student spoke of the gifting God has given him and how he realized that God was preparing him for ministry. Another talked about the inexplicable "need" to minister, the confidence that God was calling him into ministry. And the last told me about his passion to work in children's ministry and the great need for such ministers in the church today. God prepares us for His good works (Eph. 2:10)

• He gives us His desires.
• He equips us with His gifts.
• He confirms the calling with His Spirit.
• He instills in us His passion.

One last encouragement that I left with the seminary students was that their calling is also confirmed through the approval of the body of Christ. I "meet" every seminary student prior to our initial encounter through the good report of the other missionaries. We are excited to share with one another how God is raising up future leaders in our respected churches. We realize that it is only through new laborers that the work will continue.

Thank you for the blessing of being able to carry out this ministry.
We are TEAM!

Cultural Lesson # ∞ + 5

Birthdays

Some of you reading this entry may not understand why I consider this a cultural lesson as it is not much different from your reality within our culture. However I believe, depending on the individual, this is a point of great difference. Here in Paraguay one's birthday is probably the most important day of the year for the individual, even beating out Christmas. I have not encountered a Paraguayan that does not like to celebrate his/her birthday.

Growing up my family always celebrated our birthdays in an intimate setting, which included immediate family and maybe an invited friend. My mom would make us kids whatever we wanted for our birthday dinner. I had it down to the smallest detail: Roast Beef, homemade wheat bread, cabbage salad, mashed potatoes with sour cream, apple cider, and apple pie for desert. I never remember having a big party. I'm not complaining.

When Karen and I married this was a source of "growth" for us as a couple. It took some time before Karen realized I really did not want a party. My preference was to spend a quiet evening with Karen without the big hoop-ti-do of a party.

Fast forward to my present-day reality in Paraguay. Everyone wants to celebrate birthdays, not just their own but yours as well. Your day starts with cell phone text messages... long ones expressing desires for a prosperous year and thanks for the blessings you bring. People stop by throughout the day to wish you a Happy Birthday. And if you are following proper etiquette you will host a birthday party so that others can come and celebrate you.

I like going to the Birthday parties to celebrate others. And I enjoy sending text messages to friends on their birthdays (although my messages are typically shorter than the norm). However, I'm still very uncomfortable receiving all that attention on my day. It's not so much the text messages, I kind of like that. But being the center of attention at a party with 30-50 people in attendance... aye yie yie, it's not my thing.

I've tried to side-step my day as it rolls around in Paraguay. The first year I used the ignorance card. "Party? Oh I don't need a party. I just prefer a quiet evening at home." This past October we held a party for Karen and another young man from the church who shares his day with Karen. When it came to my day a few weeks later I used the excuse that our budget would not sustain two parties in one month (which is true). This past week we had a leadership meeting to plan the special dates for the upcoming year. I planned a short get-away on the weekend of my birthday. I figure what a great time to go to Brazil (we will have to save to make that fit into the budget). I'll probably change our plans and stick around because I realize that the BIRTHDAY is too big of a cultural custom to avoid.

A few sayings that come to mind are: When in Rome... be all things to all people... you can run but you can't hide. Or the most apropos: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Our house guest, Josh, was introduced to the Parguayan birthday last Saturday evening. Take a look at the video below to get a feel of what takes place.

Thank you for your support. We are TEAM!

Yellow Fever Breakout

Paraguay is experiencing an outbreak of Yellow Fever. The U.S. embassy sent us a notice via e-mail several days ago that this should be taken seriously and that we all should be vaccinated. They informed us that 50% of all people who contract the disease die. That certainly was a motivator for our houseguest Josh. I told him we might have to wait in a line up to 6 hours, to which he replied, "Six hours or death? ... hmmmm... I'll wait in line."

Thankfully we were able to get the shot this morning and we only had to wait in line for 2 1/2 hours. Many countries from around the world are sending vaccines and money to help Paraguay during this time. Anyone within Paraguay can go to the designated hospitals to receive the vaccine free of charge. I had my vaccination in the States prior to leaving for Costa Rica, but for some reason Karen and Jeffrey did not receive their injections. And of course Jasmine was not vaccinated, as she is only 13 months. This morning Karen, Jeffrey, Jasmine and Josh all received their shots.

It is noteworthy to mention that I (who was already vaccinated), selflessly and with no desire of recognition, stood in line experiencing the 90+ degree weather and little shade with my family.

Thank you for your support. We are TEAM!

Josh

This past Wednesday we received a new addition to our family. Josh Cook is from the Zephyrhills Alliance Church near our home base in Springhill, Florida. We met Josh's family (Dan and Nancy), when we spoke at their church prior to going to Costa Rica for language school. We met up with them again while in Costa Rica as they invited us to speak to a group of students they were chaperoning on a school trip.

Josh wanted to take a semester off from school to gather his thoughts and to determine where God is leading him. He had a good short-term experience in Costa Rica and another in China and wanted something a little longer to flesh out a passion for service and for children.

Please be in prayer that we would be a blessing to Josh and that he as well would be a blessing to the Paraguayans. Pray that Josh hears from the Lord with regard to His future.

Our first few days have been a blessing. Josh has entered the new culture with a desire to learn and to serve the people. In the Sunday morning service Josh accompanied our worship team on the keyboard and Sunday afternoon he showed the Paraguayans that some Americans have skills as he joined them in a game of Futbol (Soccer). We're thankful that Josh thought about Paraguay and about us when he was considering his plans. I'll keep you updated from time-to-time with Josh's journey.

Thanks for your support. We are TEAM!

Wednesday Prayer

January/February are the big "summer" months here in Paraguay. Whereas the people are enjoying their breaks from school and/or a vacation from their work if they are able to manage it, the pastors and church leaders are most busy during this time.

As you have been reading we've had a missionary retreat, short-term missions trip, and youth camps in under a months time. This next week, the 11th through the 13th, our church leaders in Asunción will be meeting to plan our schedule for the upcoming year.

• I would ask that you pray specifically for lasting fruit from all the efforts we've expended. We'd like to see that locally in Asunción, also in San Antonio (short term trip location) and denominationally throughout our churches.
• Pray that the folks who made commitments would mature in their understanding of the Lord and that those Christians who were involved in the ministries would maintain their passion.
• Pray for the Asunción planning retreat. Pray that the Lord would guide us this year into the steps He has preordained. We have two young people (Joanna and Jorge) who will be attending this retreat with us. Our desire is to see them become more involved so that they will be an integral part of the leadership staff.
• Pray also for a young man from Zephyrhills Florida who will be joining us next week. We have met the Cooks through the relationship that we have with our prayer supporters. While in Costa Rica they invited us to speak to a group of young people from a Florida Christian school who were on a short term missions trip. Josh will be coming for approximately 5 months to experience missions. While here he will be involved in helping us develop our Sunday school program. Pray that we will model well what the Lord has called us to do.

Thank you for your support in prayer. We are TEAM.

I don't need to do anything

I (We) don't need to do anything.

When I'm struggling with a spiritual discipline, such as prayer, reading my Bible, or sharing Christ, I tend to feel guilty. I feel that I NEED to do more. I NEED to pray more. I NEED to read my Bible more. I NEED to share more. I NEED to, I NEED to, I NEED to.

I've experienced the point of crisis (C&MA terminology) in my life. Through the crisis experience I was able to gain freedom from the strongpoint that alcohol, drugs, and tobacco had on my life. These weren't things I could have escaped from on my own. I realized the only way I was going to experience freedom was through the Holy Spirit's indwelling and my complete dependence upon God (Romans 7-8, 1 John 1:9). Therefore, I gave it all over to Him and depended on Him to "fix" my life.

Now I'm beginning to think I've compartmentalized my sanctification. I've given the Lord my fight with alcohol, drugs, and tobacco (these were the most obvious outward signs of sin in my life). But when it came to the deeper life issues, such as prayer and Bible reading I held back because of a belief that I had a greater responsibility in these areas.

Faith is a gift of God. We can't force more faith. I'm convinced as Christians we desire to experience more of Christ because of His Spirit living in us. Therefore we try to do more in order to gain more. This is the sinful nature that tells us we CAN do it; we just need to try harder. This is the "wretched man" principle of Romans 7. I need to apply the "more than conquerors" principle found in Romans 8 and live according to the Spirit. Agree with the Lord that I can't DO anything on my own, but He can do all things, He can cleanse me from this unrighteous self-help attitude.

I've been struggling with this in my life and I've struggled with this when I go to disciple others because my spirit knows that it is not right to tell someone they NEED to do something. I know that this "need-to" belief and/or teaching to others will ultimately end in failure because it is not born of a genuine desire of the individual. We don't NEED to do anything, we don't need to force anything. We are in desperate need to know that only God can DO in us what will last for eternity.

When my prayer life or my Bible-study is lacking God can turn it around if I go to Him and depend wholeheartedly on His ability to empower me (grace). If I confess that I am wrong in my self-striving and that I'm in need of His cleansing from all unrighteousness, I will experience the "success" that the Spirit of God within me so desires. I'm sure I'll have my set-backs, I'll experience my failures just as I did when I was giving Him my fight with alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. But I'm convinced that at one point I'll look back and praise Him for what He has done; How He has given me the victory in these deeper life areas.

Thanks for you support. We are TEAM!

A.L.A.S. 2008 Final Post

Here is the final post from our short term missions trip. Enjoy!

Thank you for your support. We are TEAM!